The Voorman Problem

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11)      “And what kind of God finds wars amusing?”

“A bored one. Yes. I equipped humans’with imaginations mainly so they can dream up new ways to entertain me. ”

22)      “Prisoners are more fun than well-kept congregations”

This is perhaps my favorite of the readings or films we have read or watched thus far. In “The Voorman Problem”, directed by Mark Gill, Dr. Williams (played by Martin Freeman) is a professional psychiatrist hired by Governor Bentley (played by Simmon Griffiths) to address what he refers to as “the Voorman problem”. He explains that inmate Voorman believes himself a god and that the prisoners all subscribe to the same belief. Upon interviewing Voorman, Dr. Williams’s initial clinical reaction is to label him as insane. However, Voorman proposes that, as proof, he will make Belgium disappear by tea time. Doctor Williams tells his wife of the proposal to illustrate how ludicrous it is, only to find that she has never heard of Belgium, and that Belgium no longer exists. During their next meeting, Voorman explains that, as god, he operates for the sole purpose of entertaining himself (a character trait I have as well, at times). He then switches the places of himself and Dr. Williams and exits the room.

 I believe the most important notion to address in this film is the actual “Voorman Problem”. I will explain my theory, which is best exemplified by the quotes above. My interpretation of the film is that “the Voorman problem” refers to the actual “problem” of the possibility of a god in general. The problem is that god, as an entity, might not actually care about the world he has created or its constituents. In fact, he may consider human beings his toys or his prisoners, regardless of whether or not they worship him. Evidence for this claim is abundant throughout the film. When asked about why he remains in the prison if he is a god, Voorman claims “Prisoners are much more fun than well-fed congregations”. I believe there is a dual meaning to this quote, implying that it is more entertaining to control and “imprison” people as god (by creating them for entertainment) than it is to have people surrender their control to you by worshipping you. This idea also reveals a hint of irony in the dialogue. The Governor refers to Voorman as “a prisoner who believes himself a god” when he is, in fact, a god who assumes the role of a prisoner. Similarly, it is all the more ironic because all members of the human race could be considered his prisoners or his play things. This idea is further supported in the beginning when Dr. Williams asks how they "will know when to release the prisoners” to which the governor replies “…release them?” implying that they will never be free, just as humans could never be free from a god like Voorman. This brings to light the main problem; even if we were to look past the flaws in logic and assume there was a god, there is always the possibility that he might be operating under the principle of self-interest. The problem with Voorman (exemplified by the first quote above) is that he created the human race to satisfy his boredom and his need for entertainment, deconstructing the general notions of our purpose in this world. There exists, in our world, the possibility of a god who may have very well done the same. The other part of the Voorman problem is that, as previously mentioned, if this were true and that god did exist, we would all be under his control, making us his eternal prisoners. This is the Voorman problem.